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ISLAMABAD: The head of the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) in the Panama Papers case, Wajid Zia, testified before the accountability court on Tuesday that the JIT discarded a key document submitted by the Sharif family in the Supreme Court to prove the money trail of the purchase of its Avenfield Apartments despite not having any direct evidence and that the investigation team’s claim about the liabilities’ settlement of the Sharifs was on the basis of assumptions.

When during the cross-examination lead defence counsel of the Sharif family Advocate Khawaja Haris Ahmed asked Mr Zia, a star prosecution witness, why the JIT used the word “ostensibly” in its finding, he replied that the word was used because the investigation team did not have any direct evidence to conclusively prove that the Sharifs’ liabilities of 14 million dirhams were settled between 1978 and 1986 after the sale of 25 per cent shares of Gulf Steel Mills (GSM).

The claim of the Sharif family regarding the purchase of four apartments in Avenfield, Park Lane, was that it settled AED12 million from the sale proceeds of shares of Ahli Steel Mills (ASM) (erstwhile Gulf Steel Mills) with Qatari royals.

The JIT in the Volume III of its report on GSM rejected the claim of the Sharif family.

Wajid Zia testifies in court that JIT’s claim about liabilities settlement of Sharif family was on the basis of assumptions

Headed by Mr Zia of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), the JIT comprised representatives from the Inter-Services Intelligence, Military Intelligence, National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) and State Bank of Pakistan (SBP).

It may be mentioned that the JIT was of the view that the Sharif family did not make an investment of AED 12 million with Qatari prince Hamad bin Jassim Al-Thani and cleared the liabilities of GSM instead from that amount.

When Advocate Ahmed asked “did any witness inform you about the settlement of liabilities through shares sale proceeds”, Mr Zia replied in the negative.

Initially Mr Zia claimed that Tariq Shafi, who was operating the business of the Sharif family in the UAE, had stated that the liabilities were settled through the sale of shares. However, the defence counsel pointed out that Mr Shafi in his statement recorded before the JIT categorically stated that he did not know who and when these liabilities were cleared.

Mr Zia informed the court that since there were huge liabilities on GSM and Mr Shafi also defaulted on loans of Bank of Credit and Commerce International (BCCI) and he opened an account in 1986, therefore, the JIT presumed that he cleared the liabilities during the period between 1978 and 1986.

He went on to say that unless one cleared the liabilities, one could not open an account in the same bank.

Advocate Ahmed asked whether the JIT recorded statement of any official of BCCI, obtained any bank transaction or collected any evidence to substantiate its stance, Mr Zia frankly admitted “there is no direct evidence on record”.

Mystery of Volume X

The secrecy of the much-hyped Volume X also came under discussion in the accountability court and Mr Zia disclosed that neither any written request was made for keeping the report confidential nor was there any written order of the Supreme Court in this regard.

During arguments on the agreement of the GSM’s shares sale, Mr Zia told the court that the JIT wrote seven letters under the Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) to the UAE Central Authority for International Cooperation and sought information related to the establishment and disposal of the said mills.

When Advocate Ahmed challenged him that the JIT had written a few more MLA letters, Mr Zia said that for this he had to check the record. He then informed the accountability court judge Mohammad Bashir that the relevant record was in Volume X of the JIT’s report, which had been sealed by the Supreme Court.

When Advocate Ahmed asked, “did the apex court seal it on its own or it was done on the request of JIT”, Mr Zia said: “JIT requested the Supreme Court to keep this Volume X confidential.”

On another question of the defence counsel that “did you file any application for keeping this Volume confidential”, Mr Zia said: “No, the JIT verbally requested the Supreme Court bench to keep the Volume X confidential after which all the five copies have been sealed.”

“Can you produce any written order of the Supreme Court which asked the JIT to seal the Volume X?” Advocate Ahmed further asked. Mr Zia responded that the apex court also issued verbal directions upon the JIT’s request, therefore, there was no written order in this regard.

Advocate Ahmed then asked, “do you know NAB has also obtained copy of Volume X and during the hearing of Panama Papers case, counsel for respondents also read this Volume in the open court”, Mr Zia replied that he did not recollect that.

However, after the accountability court issued a direction, Mr Zia agreed to apply for relevant record of Volume X from the Supreme Court.

Advocate Amjad Pervez, another defence counsel, suggested that instead of seeking selected record related to GSM, the JIT head should apply for the entire Volume X since in the upcoming phase of cross-examination the MLAs regarding British Virgin Island and Financial Investigation Agency of the BVI would also come under discussion.

On DawnNews

Comments (55) Closed

So what? He wont go to jail, the wealth he looted is not coming back to Pakistan.
Nothing is going to happen. We are a failed state.

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Pakman

Apr 04, 2018 07:40am

Why Nawaz team does not show the banking trail of the money used it should be really simple.

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Political connoisseur

Apr 04, 2018 07:52am

The cases are adjourned, no result yet, either the cases be decided soon, or trash the case, and let the politicians prepare for elections. The common people are engaged for livelihood, the food medicine,all out of reach due to inflation, the rupee value declining. There is no peace of mind or entertainment programs on TV, daily the judicial puzzles, and adjournments , please excuse us.

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Ariff

Apr 04, 2018 08:04am

Nawaz Sharif owns 370+ properties in UK. He should be asked about each one. Nawaz also owns power company in New Zealand and other countries.

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Syed

Apr 04, 2018 08:04am

Nawaz Sharif will be convicted evidence or no evidence.

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Main hoon na

Apr 04, 2018 08:05am

This guy zia seems bigger fraud than Kaptaan himself.

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Babu

Apr 04, 2018 08:17am

Yes,the jit did not look at 'key evidence' provided by the Sharif's. However when they did looked at other evidences, like the qatari letter and the calibri font documents, it only led to more trouble for the sharifs. The sharifs would be better off if the JIT didn't look at these key evidences!

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SM

Apr 04, 2018 08:23am

What? A sitting PM disqualified on the basis of an assumption?

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PakiForum

Apr 04, 2018 08:34am

The case is simple, show the money trail. There are no assumptions on how you settled money as such transactions have money trail or receipts. Nawaz Sharif did not buy 5 Rupee toffee and gave it to his children, he bought property. Everyone knows how much documentation is required in order to buy property.

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Ajmal

Apr 04, 2018 08:38am

JIT report is not legally sound at all., only a charge sheet without, any meaningful investigation, any concrete evidence, any proper preparation or home work, its just designed to give an easy exit to Sharif's. This is a fodder for some tabloid story

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Khalid khan

Apr 04, 2018 08:47am

Sharif’s are at liberty to present any document or record of bank transactions establishing the money trail of their properties any time even now but most surely none exists. So now, the whole game is to create a cloud of fake news to gain some political advantage. Match, set, point, game over soon!

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Zaheer

Apr 04, 2018 08:50am

Nawaz shrief and family. Please produce original sale documents of the flats! Please

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Wshaikh

Apr 04, 2018 08:51am

Mr. Wajid Zia's testimony is very week and clearly indicates that there is no evidence of corruption in this case.

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Alba

Apr 04, 2018 09:09am

Down With The Crown.

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Sheraz Karim

Apr 04, 2018 09:28am

NAB should have hired a top lawyer as its chief prosecutor. How can a low paid lawyer face Khawaja Haris in such a case of national importance.

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Hu Zhi Yuan Dr

Apr 04, 2018 09:32am

@SHYAM Merit of the case ? The case is very simple. Source of funds which were used to purchase the properties. Where is that "Money Trail" ? We are waiting for the "missing link" of Darwin !

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Kamran

Apr 04, 2018 09:47am

Wajid Zia crumbling under tough questions. This is what happens when you have no case.

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HA

Apr 04, 2018 10:14am

Qatari letter is not a proof whatsoever, so why some journalists are becoming 'lawyers' for NS?

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tahir saleem

Apr 04, 2018 10:24am

Seems this case will legalize the looted money of NS and family

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Muneer

Apr 04, 2018 10:51am

How could there be a witness to deny contents of a fake document?. Only the one who has prepared the fake document could that. Wajid Zia is on the right lines,he is not falling in the trap being set up by the defense lawyer.

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SHAHZ

Apr 04, 2018 10:53am

Looks like backdoor settlements in process!

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Kaleem

Apr 04, 2018 10:59am

Before commenting on why Shareefs did not provide money trail, please read this:

JIT discarded a key document submitted by the Sharif family in the Supreme Court to prove the money trail of the purchase of its Avenfield Apartments despite not having any direct evidence and that the investigation team’s claim about the liabilities’ settlement of the Sharifs was on the basis of assumptions.

Aa s simple citizen of Pakistan, I know that if a person is not guilty he should provide the actual money trail immediately. otherwise there is something wrong. Why the defense counsels are playing musical chair with JIT Head? What a country and its laws! Thieves are being provided all the time and sources to ridicule the law and question the ones who caught them.

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Aysha

Apr 04, 2018 11:58am

REAding the comment section made wounder that how many red the news.

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Khursheed Alam

Apr 04, 2018 12:13pm

All seem made up and now NAB has already settled with NS and soon the cases will be put in garbage.

Justice will be done. In the new Pakistan, the public is involved in delivering justice but through various institutions, which themselves are under public scrutiny and watch.

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ABE

Apr 04, 2018 01:27pm

Was this document is also produced using Calibre font - in 1992??

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Salman

Apr 04, 2018 01:35pm

@Kamran
Crumbling? Hardly. All he is saying is already in the JIT report. Don't celebrate too early, next phase is when defence has the opportunity to present their evidence. Which is what it was always going to come down to...what money trail can the sharifs provide?

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moona

Apr 04, 2018 02:01pm

And does he have any shame?

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ayub

Apr 04, 2018 02:12pm

It looks like the J I T was assuming things not facts, it sounds like a personal grudge and animosity based on assumptions at its best... that Zia guy has made fool of himself and wasted national resources on giving contracts in England to his relative and plundered the poor country's money and resources for his personal gratification.

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Mustafa

Apr 04, 2018 02:15pm

Seems more a star witness for the defence. A weak prosecution taking place good old nab

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Khan

Apr 04, 2018 02:24pm

@SM Yes it is very shameful

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Syed

Apr 04, 2018 02:48pm

Property is not in Nawaz Sharif's name so technically he cannot be asked to show money trail. Neither was his name in Panama papers... Legally there is no case.

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Juna bazar

Apr 04, 2018 02:58pm

Why this case is getting prolong? during last two years sharif did not provide money trail so trial must be concluded now.

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Hu Zhi Yuan Dr

Apr 04, 2018 03:23pm

@Kaleem The only money trail provided by Sharifs is QATARI Letter. Yes, that Letter "proves" the money trail.

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Hu Zhi Yuan Dr

Apr 04, 2018 03:25pm

@moona No He does NOT.

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Hu Zhi Yuan Dr

Apr 04, 2018 03:27pm

@ayub Please read the JIT Report and all its appendices. These run into over 2000 pages. You will be surprised !

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Talha

Apr 04, 2018 03:52pm

Another NRO taking place at the back-end? Is it a case where Sharifs are critical in front of camera and pleading for an NRO behind the curtains?

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Jawad Ch

Apr 04, 2018 03:57pm

I think this is trial of JIT or Wajid Zia.. Not sharif family.
If sharif family had the correct money trail. Why not they provide to court.

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Zak

Apr 04, 2018 04:02pm

Just acquisition of Half billion pound worth of properties in UK is enough, to establish corruption. Rest is pedantic.

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on FLIP SIDE

Apr 04, 2018 04:28pm

@Main hoon na still far less than MNS who has no proof of how he got extraordinary wealth.

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Omer

Apr 04, 2018 05:05pm

Mr. Wajid claims are as hollow as of IK. Both had been claiming that they have loads of evidence to prove corruption of Sharif family and at the end they can only tell stories without evidence!!

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Observer-India

Apr 04, 2018 05:11pm

@Syed : delighting comment. May not be the fate of ZA Bhutto as it happened in Martial Laws.

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Asif Khan

Apr 04, 2018 05:12pm

White collar criminals do not leave any trace or evidence. We already know acquittal of Mr. Ten Percent from all cases. Only solution to grab these criminals from their neck and put them in jails unless looted money recovered.

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Observer-India

Apr 04, 2018 05:18pm

@SM : As an Indian, I had the same view when the court verdict came. Mr NS may not be a 100% Sadiq and Amin but his disqualification was not on solid ground.

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Qaisar

Apr 04, 2018 05:44pm

The fraud has been exposed. We all know that these cases are nothing but political victimization and time will come when every conspirator will be brought to justice

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SkyHawk

Apr 04, 2018 05:55pm

Wajid Zia must be paid big amount of money to protect the corrupt Sharif family and save them from jail.

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mk

Apr 04, 2018 06:03pm

Just to clarify those who are saying that shareef provide no money train.

Wajid Zia accepted that all document provided by shareef family were discarded assuming they are fake and there was no time of checking their validity.

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ZAK

Apr 04, 2018 08:12pm

Volume X will soon be opened and there will be no more cheers.

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Hu Zhi Yuan Dr

Apr 05, 2018 10:01am

@Aysha I did read the News. I also have read the FULL Judgment of SCP ( 5 Judges Bench over 500 pages ). I have also read the JIT report and its appendices ( over 2000 pages ).

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Hu Zhi Yuan Dr

Apr 05, 2018 10:10am

@Syed It is an open-shut case. The real legal issue is : Where are the receipts of purchase of London properties ? Where are the details of bank transactions of the money used for purchase of these properties ? If both do not "exist", then the money was sent through Illegal channels ( via Hawala, or Hundi whatever you call it in local terms?) and/or it represents "kick backs & commissions" directly paid in London. What were the sources of income of these amounts ? If Sharifs can not disclose the "sources of income" then it is "illegally obtained wealth. This is the QUESTION which NS is not responding to, and the issue is being "clouded" in the cries that he was disqualified for not "taking" salary from his son's company.

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Ayaz Baig

Apr 06, 2018 11:03pm

@Jalil Yousaf Follow the evidence Jalil, not your personal biases. If the PM is found innocent, it would be a great day for Pakistan, Democracy, Development and the economy. And most of all, its reputation in international circuits would be vastly improved if the PM is not corrupt.